Official Finals Thread: Heat Vs Mavs

[GloveGuy]

No one's stopping Shaquille O'Neal. He made the Defensive Player of the Year his bitch -- now who's to say that DeSagana Diop, who's in his first NBA Finals, is going to be able to do better? Shaq's playing the best he ever had in the last two years: he's active, he's mobile, and he's playing like he's never won as if this is his first opportunity for a ring. There is no answer for this guy, at least not on the Dallas Mavericks.

If you double him, he'll either overpower the double-team, or he'll kick it out, and there's no one in the Miami rotation, apart from their backup center, not very capable of hitting at least a mid-range jumper. Apart from that you have three great penetrators in that starting lineup in Wade, Williams, and Walker.

There's also no answer for Dwayne Wade. Dallas's best defenders cannot match him in quickness and speed. Every game, the guy goes on these unstoppable runs where he just can't miss. There's no one to stop his penetration, and if someone does, he'll just pull up for the mid-range J.

But when it boils down to everything, the role players are going to have to make their open shots. There's no stopping Wade and Shaq from creating for themselves or creating for others, but it's all irrelevant if those others can't get the ball in the basket.

Heat in 6.

[hova-]

No one's stopping Shaquille O'Neal. He made the Defensive Player of the Year his bitch -- now who's to say that DeSagana Diop, who's in his first NBA Finals, is going to be able to do better? Shaq's playing the best he ever had in the last two years: he's active, he's mobile, and he's playing like he's never won as if this is his first opportunity for a ring. There is no answer for this guy, at least not on the Dallas Mavericks.

If you double him, he'll either overpower the double-team, or he'll kick it out, and there's no one in the Miami rotation, apart from their backup center, not very capable of hitting at least a mid-range jumper. Apart from that you have three great penetrators in that starting lineup in Wade, Williams, and Walker.

There's also no answer for Dwayne Wade. Dallas's best defenders cannot match him in quickness and speed. Every game, the guy goes on these unstoppable runs where he just can't miss. There's no one to stop his penetration, and if someone does, he'll just pull up for the mid-range J.

But when it boils down to everything, the role players are going to have to make their open shots. There's no stopping Wade and Shaq from creating for themselves or creating for others, but it's all irrelevant if those others can't get the ball in the basket.

Heat in 6.

Shaq will be a problem, definitely.
BUT:
Wade can be guarded by Josh Howard and Jason terry also showed great improvement defensively.

There is not one player who can defend Dirk, he will shoot over the smaller, faster guys, will slash vs the bigger slower defenders !
His inside game has improved so much, that will be hard for the Heat, although O`Neal showed his great shotblocking ability.

Its just, these are very very different teams, and it will be very close.

I hope Dallas in 7, definitely 7 games in this finals !

[magius]

heat in 6. nowitzki may be unstoppable, but shaq is more unstoppable. howard can not defend wade, he is too quick.... and whatever shockblocking presence dallas has will be completely preoccupied... or if he helps, shaq will destroy them. whichever way shaq or wade will shoot an incredibly high percentage. shaq is playing great, and because of that the role players are on.... the heat goes as shaq goes, if he continues this mission dallas has zero chance.

"We've had a lot of near-misses, unlikely bounces, suspensions. We've had teams that were championship contenders. We had a major, major setback with Zo's kidney," coach Pat Riley said afterward, referring to reserve center Alonzo Mourning. "But ever since Shaquille O'Neal showed up on the scene, this team has been a legitimate contender, and we have put pieces around him. Obviously the drafting of Dwyane Wade and what he's become has speeded the whole process up."

[Cyaneyes]

Dallas in 7. Dirk is the best player on the planet -along with Lebron, Nash, and maybe Shaq-

Wade will be hard to stop, though. He is so fast and talented. Hope Josh Howard makes a good D against him

[shadowgrin]

I'm guessing Walker will be assigned to guard Dirk. I wonder what might happen with that one.
No matter how much Terry has improved defensively he has no chance guarding Wade. It might be Howard and Stackhouse guarding Wade but Howard is playing hurt and might not be effective against Wade, as for Stack and even Harris, they are still not capable of guarding a healthy Wade.

[GloveGuy]

Bigger players cannot guard Dwayne Wade. That's why you didn't see Tayshaun Prince on him during the Detroit series, he can't keep up with him. Josh Howard is a great defender, but I don't see him having any chance guarding D-Wade.

I'm curious to see who the Heat put on Dirk. I'm thinking it will be either James Posey or Udonis Haslem. Posey, while giving up three inches on Dirk, seems to have a great wingspan. Haslem did really well on Rasheed Wallace in the previous series, but I don't see him being able to keep up with Dirk when he puts it on the floor.

And anyone who was knocking Miami's perimeter defense needs to check the statistics. Richard Hamilton experienced playoff lows in the FG% deparment, at 37.8%. Chauncey Billups shot a measley 39.1% from the field. Devin Harris is quick, but his path to rim won't be nearly as easy when he has either Shaquille O'Neal or Alonzo Mourning ready to block his shot. Terry, on the other hand, only shot 41.6% from the field, 25% from three last series. I have little doubt that Wade, Williams, and Payton have the advantage against Dallas' backcourt.

[Axel]

I'm amazed people think Miami won't be able to stop Devin Harris... when even the Phoenix Suns did a great job in limiting him.

The Heat have stepped up their defense... and in the half court, they're better than any other team in the league. If the Mavs are unable to get fastbreak points, they will lose the series. The Pistons couldn't get the fast break points, and I think that's the reason they lost in the ECF.

[Mads]

And anyone who was knocking Miami's perimeter defense needs to check the statistics. Richard Hamilton experienced playoff lows in the FG% deparment, at 37.8%. Chauncey Billups shot a measley 39.1% from the field.

I only get one game a week here, I only saw game six, so correct me if I'm wrong, but it seemed like the Pistons, and especially Rip, had plenty of open shots - they just couldn't hit. It seemed like they got open looks all the time, and especially when they pushed the ball. Their low field goal percentage didn't seem to have anything to do woth the Heat's defense, but just a lack of shooting touch from the Pistons. The Mavs certainly won't miss as many open shots as Detroit.

[Axel]

The Mavs certainly won't miss as many open shots as Detroit.

Your proof? The Pistons were the 3rd best 3pt shooting team in the regular season.

[J@3]

The Mavs destroyed the Heat twice in the regular season, I'm sticking with them. Shaq has a couple of decent games and suddenly he's unstoppable again

[cyanide]

I'm gonna go with my prediction of Mavs over Heat in 6. I don't mind if Miami wins it all, for GP and Mourning, but I really don't want Walker and Williams getting a ring, and especially another one for Shaq.

[Donatello]

I'm picking the Mavericks to win this. I don't know in how many games. 6 or 7, probably. I don't see them sweeping it.

[shadowgrin]

My disdain for Walker suddenly turned up again when I saw him do his fat-man wiggle after making a basket during game 6 against Detroit. Bleech.
Williams is fine by me. I was impressed when he hit those 10 straight FG's in game 6. I just want to see a good series between the two teams, but a part of me wants Miami to win because I may see Dirk curse in German again when the Mavs lose and Shaq deliver a priceless idiotic quote when the Heat win.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

INTERESTING NOTE: Whoever faces the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs is guarenteed to go to the NBA Finals or at least to the Western Conference Finals. In 04' and 06' both teams went to the Finals and in 05' the Suns went to the Conf. Finals.

wait a sec 2004
Spurs didn't reach conference finals.....Lakers defeated them

[/img]

NICE FIND. I forgot it was Twolves and Lakers in the Conf. Finals in 04'.

[Matt]

There's also no answer for Dwayne Wade. Dallas's best defenders cannot match him in quickness and speed. Every game, the guy goes on these unstoppable runs where he just can't miss. There's no one to stop his penetration, and if someone does, he'll just pull up for the mid-range J.

but he can be forced into TO's.......same as Shaq.

Dirk though gets under 2 TO's a game, and in the Spurs series with Bowen on him only had 3 TO's per game.

the 2-3-2 format favours Miami early but Mavs late. Pressure on Mavs to start strong at home.

[havasufalls]

The Mavs destroyed the Heat twice in the regular season, I'm sticking with them. Shaq has a couple of decent games and suddenly he's unstoppable again

The pistons and nets beat the heat in the regular season handly as well and the heat handled them in the playoffs jus fine. I think u can throw the regular season stuff out cause the heat r definitely a better team now. It wont in no way be easy for either team but i believe the heat can pull it out in 5.

GO HEAT!!!!!!

[Lakers08]

My Interesting Note
Any Team that defeats the Def. Champions
Becomes Conference Champion or NBA Champion
Spurs def Lakers in 2003...Spurs became NBA Champion
Lakers def Spurs in 2004....Lakers became WCF Champion...
Spurs def Pistons in Finals 2005.....Spurs became NBA Champion....
Mavs def Spurs this 2006....Mavs Reaches Finals with WCF Title.....

[Jeffx]

I'm gonna go with my prediction of Mavs over Heat in 6. I don't mind if Miami wins it all, for GP and Mourning, but I really don't want Walker and Williams getting a ring, and especially another one for Shaq.

I don't wan Pat the Rat to get another ring after he bailed on NY. GO MAVS!!!!

[Lakers08]

Look at Pat's Hand...

[3th]

gangsta shit

i hope dallas will take it in game 7

[J@3]

The Mavs destroyed the Heat twice in the regular season, I'm sticking with them. Shaq has a couple of decent games and suddenly he's unstoppable again

The pistons and nets beat the heat in the regular season handly as well and the heat handled them in the playoffs jus fine. I think u can throw the regular season stuff out cause the heat r definitely a better team now. It wont in no way be easy for either team but i believe the heat can pull it out in 5.

GO HEAT!!!!!!

Well you can't really throw it out, but it is a whole new ball game... I still think the Mavs will take them, I'm hoping anyway.

[Jugs]

Everyone is underestimating Van Horn's uber abilities to dominate from anywhere from the court. He was no.2 draft pick!!!! As if he won't be a problem for the Heat D.

Fuck Fatoine Walker

[shadowgrin]

My Interesting Note
Any Team that defeats the Def. Champions
Becomes Conference Champion or NBA Champion

Interesting.
To shorten what you said:
Any team that defeats the defending champions goes to the Finals.

[j.23]

No one's stopping Shaquille O'Neal. He made the Defensive Player of the Year his bitch

i could jerk off to that quote all day; my hate for ben wallace is unparalleled.

heat in 5.

[shadowgrin]

Filler article before the Finals:
http://www.nba.com/finals2006/inside_finals
Zo's look on the ECF trophy shows that he really wants to win a ring, imo.